Armenia-Azerbaijan Relations After the 2020 Karabakh Second War. Geopolitical Situation and A Focus on External Actors

Abstract

This article scientifically studies and analyzes the political relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan after the Second Karabakh War in 2020. In it, we analyze the interests and influences of external actors in the resolution of this conflict.

The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict had a significant impact on the geopolitical situation in the South Caucasus. As a result of the ongoing second war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan established full control over Nagorno-Karabakh, which led to the mass displacement of the ethnic Armenian population of Karabakh. Despite active peace negotiations, significant obstacles remained in the relations between the two countries and in the process of resolving the conflict. However, it should be noted that the peace summit held in Washington on August 8, 2025, with the mediation of President Donald Trump, outlined the contours of an end to the conflict between these two countries. In this article, we try to analyze the consequences of the growing role of the US in the South Caucasus region, which is significantly related to the opening of the Zangezur corridor. There are descent opportunities for economic cooperation between these countries, if international actors and the parties themselves show good faith in the negotiations and create solid security mechanisms that will become the foundation for a lasting peace and economic development in the future, both in the region and specifically between Armenia and Azerbaijan.